The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-20
CARLYLE-FR0UDE.
Correspondence Which Shows the Essayist
and Historian in an Unenyiable Light.

NEW YORK, Jan. 19-The Tribune this morn
ing publishes the following letter from Mrs
Alexander Carlyle in reference to the Norton
Froude controversy:
t.Will you allow me to say few words in re-
ply to the letter signed j. A. Froude. and pub
lished by you, which is much at variance with
the facts MIR. Froude, in my uncle's lifetime.
entered into an engagement, sanctioned by my
uncle as part of the provision he intended to
make for me, to regard himself as trustee for
me of the copyright and the whole profits to be
derived from the publication OF the remiDis-
censes On the 22d Of November, 1879, my hus-
band and l were dining with Mr. Froude. his
son, Mr.. Ashley Froude. being present, when
this arrangement was discussed and confirmed
In the full sense as stated above. So the matter
rested until my uncle's death. On Feb IA, 1881.
still before the publication of the "reminiscences,
Mr.. Froude wrote to me, proposing to divide
with me the profits of the first English edition,
which profits amounted to 1850. | demurred to
this, as inconsistent with Mr. Froudes engage
ment On the 21st of February, 1884, Sir James
Stephen wrote to me that Mr.. Froude was per
fectly satisfied with the following note, made by
Sir James Stephen, of conversation with me:
'Mrs. Alexander CARLYLE says that Mr.. Froude
time ago, promised to give her the whole pro-
ceeds of the emniscenses when published and that
she informed her uncle of this intention, and that he
approved of it. and under these she de-
Hines receive any share of the proceeds less than
he whole.
InlS nOte was pnraSeu Dy SlrJAmeS Ot0pQen.
not by me. Afterward, on the same day Mr.
Froude wrote to me:
.'I had settled in my own mind that you ought to
have half Of the English copyright of both books the
"reminiscences and the life and letters, to follow. OF
you shall have every farthing that from
the "reminiscences.
'.T@o days later, on the ODD of February, 1881,
Mr.. Froude wrote to me:
II am bound to tell you that Ashley RI. e. Mr..
Froudes son who present, it seems at of the
he
firms your account Of it. ! am utterly ashamed of
myself, and can only suppose that the addi-
ter q. e., the article. Jane Welsh CarlyleD.
aud general sense that had been thinking a good
Deal about the American part of the business had
fused my memory of what had passed ard led me to
believe that free to arrange the details over
again. don't wonder at anything which you
may have thought of me.
1.-THE reason of my consulting lawyer was
not as Mr.. Froude suggests. to enforce payment
Of the money. but to try, if possible, to prevent
Mr. Froude from misusng the materials for the
biography, as, by common consent, he had mis-
nsed those of the "reminiscences. | repeatedly
offered to give up to Mr.. Froude the whole pro-
seeds of the "reminiscences, present and future,
as well AS the copyright Of it, if he would act
upon his public undertaking contained in his let
ter to the London Times of May g. 1881, name
ly, that he would at once restore to me the pa
pers and not proceed with the biography. Mr..
Froude and his co-executor aud friend, Sir
James Stephen, having suggested that the pro-
ceeds OF the "reminiscences, as we'll as the pa
pera might belong to Mr.. Carlyles resduary es-
tate, further offered to provide the executors
with substantial indemnity against any possi
BILE claim from the residuary legatees. 1 have
not sought, neither has Mr.. Froude offered t.
me- subsequently to his letter of the 21st OF
February, 1881, any profits but these derived
from the pI blication Of the reminiscences less
&300 which he retained 'in satisfaction, to use
Sir James Stephens words, of any claim he
might have IN respect of the manuscripts called
Jane Welsh Carlyle, or in respect of his own la
Dor in prepar ag the work, or otherwise. l am
sir, yours faithfully, MARY CARLYLE"